Irkle, A. et al. (2015) Identifying active vascular microcalcification by 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography. Nature Communications, 6, 7495. (doi: 10.1038/ncomms8495) (PMID:26151378) (PMCID:PMC4506997)
|
Text
188690.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 1MB |
Abstract
Vascular calcification is a complex biological process that is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. While macrocalcification confers plaque stability, microcalcification is a key feature of high-risk atheroma and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging of atherosclerosis using 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) has the potential to identify pathologically high-risk nascent microcalcification. However, the precise molecular mechanism of 18F-NaF vascular uptake is still unknown. Here we use electron microscopy, autoradiography, histology and preclinical and clinical PET/CT to analyse 18F-NaF binding. We show that 18F-NaF adsorbs to calcified deposits within plaque with high affinity and is selective and specific. 18F-NaF PET/CT imaging can distinguish between areas of macro- and microcalcification. This is the only currently available clinical imaging platform that can non-invasively detect microcalcification in active unstable atherosclerosis. The use of 18F-NaF may foster new approaches to developing treatments for vascular calcification.
Item Type: | Articles |
---|---|
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Lewis, Dr David |
Authors: | Irkle, A., Vesey, A. T., Lewis, D. Y., Skepper, J. N., Bird, J. L.E., Dweck, M. R., Joshi, F. R., Gallagher, F. A., Warburton, E. A., Bennett, M. R., Brindle, K. M., Newby, D. E., Rudd, J. H., and Davenport, A. P. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences |
Journal Name: | Nature Communications |
Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
ISSN: | 2041-1723 |
ISSN (Online): | 2041-1723 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2015 Macmillan Publishers Ltd |
First Published: | First published in Nature Communications 6(1):7495 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record